Break out the party hats, Ruger’s LCR just got a little brother! The newest member of the LCR family shares all the great features of its brethren and is now available in .22 caliber. The LCR-22 is light, fast handling, and accurate for a 1.875” barrel, and it’s a ball to shoot.

If you’re not familiar with Ruger’s LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver) which debuted in January of 2009, it is best known as the first production polymer framed revolver. Several others have come out since but Ruger was ahead of the pack with the LCR.

The polymer lower part of the frame houses all components of the fire control mechanism and is mated to an aluminum alloy upper which houses the stainless steel cylinder and barrel liner. Polymer is a rugged material, rust and corrosion proof, and light weight. The aluminum upper and heavy fluting on the cylinder contribute additional weight savings. My review gun came in at 14.8 ounces empty on my stamps.com electronic scale, but the reported weight is 14.9 ounces. The balance point is at the back of the cylinder which I consider ideal for a snub nose revolver. It comes on target out of the holster quickly, thanks in part to the great balance as well as the natural grip angle and excellent rubber grip from Hogue.

The hammer is completely enclosed making, this a double-action-only (DAO) revolver and eliminating a potential snag for anyone interested in concealed carry. The DAO trigger, like its bigger brothers, is very smooth with no stacking and little overtravel. It measured right around 12 pounds but didn’t seem that much thanks to the way they cam the trigger.

The LCR-22 is compact, little more than 6.25” long and 1.25” wide. It sits so lightly in a holster or in your pocket that you’ll forget it’s there

The big news, of course is that you can now get it in .22 caliber which opens the opportunity to do a lot more shooting since .22 ammo is inexpensive and widely available. The LCR-22 will handle .22 short, .22 long, and .22 long rifle ammo, including shot shells, which means that you can personalize it for your needs.

I see this fun little revolver filling a number of roles. The most important component to shooting any gun accurately, aside from the gun itself, is practice. No matter how good (or bad) you are, more practice will make you better. Unfortunately, center fire ammo can get expensive, especially if you want to shoot hundreds of rounds a month. With a .22, you can shoot for pocket change.

Regardless of whatever other handguns you have, the sight picture management and trigger control will transfer from the LCR-22 to any other handgun. If your other guns include a revolver, even better. The practice you get with the function of the gun will help you perform better with your other revolvers. And the low recoil of a .22 is ideal for developing good shooting habits and for introducing someone new to shooting.

This would also be a great trail/woods gun if you don’t have to worry about the bigger predators. For snakes and other vermin, or as a survival gun to shoot small game, the .22LR is an ample caliber. it would be a nice addition to your kit due to its small size and light weight.

The biggest drawback to use as a trail gun is that the black-on-black sight isn’t the best, especially for dim lighting. Fortunately, the front blade sight is pinned in and can be exchanged for a white dot Tritium sight like the excellent XS Sight Systems sight. A Crimson Trace laser grip is also a great accuracy enhancer and will most likely be available for this gun.

I clocked the Federal .22 Long Rifle ammo I used for my review at an average velocity, twelve feet in front of the muzzle, of 922.7 feet per second. They were 36 grain hollow points which, at 922.7 fps, have a kinetic energy of 68 foot pounds. Compared with a typical 158 grain .38 caliber round delivering about 200 ft.lbs. of energy, the .22 looks pretty wimpy, and it is. Definitely not your first choice for a defensive gun. But, in certain situations, it could be enough.

As you can see in the photos, it was enough to punch holes through a piece of 1×2 pine at 21 feet. That doesn’t translate directly into stopping power, but it does show that it would be likely to punch through 1/4 inch of skull at the same range, regardless of the species of predator. In any event, any gun is better than no gun, so a .22 in your pocket is 100% better than a .45 in your gun safe.

And did I mention it’s fun to shoot? I started with some slow firing to gauge the accuracy shooting offhand from 21 feet, which is where you’d be most likely to use this kind of gun. I was able to consistently put five rounds into an inch and a half, less than an inch if you took out the one flier I seemed to get in each string. There’s no doubt that the accuracy of the gun is better than this and a shooter with better eyes could probably do a lot better.

Next I did some drawing and firing from the holster, concealed with a shooting vest. Here’s my first five shots from ten feet as fast as I could draw and shoot. The natural way the LCR points helps a lot here.

Finally I shot another couple hundred rounds firing on the move, drawing while dropping to a knee, and just having fun. The cylinder got warm but never hot and a sharp rap on the ejection rod cleanly ejected all spent cartridges every time.

As an aside, I really like the cylinder crane release on the LCR. Instead of sliding a button forward or back, you just push it in. It operates very easily and when something works so easily, you have to wonder if it could cause a problem. As a test, I tried to inadvertently release the cylinder and went as far as to actually depress the button all the way while the gun was in the holster before drawing and firing. Did it malfunction? Nope. There’s enough force from the lock pin spring to keep the cylinder closed until you intentionally overcome it by pushing on the side of the cylinder while simultaneously depressing the crane release button. Ruger did a good job on this gun.

The LCR-22 is a modern, good looking, and versatile gun. The fit and finish is excellent as is the MSRP of $525. Street price will undoubtedly be a little less. They made sure that it was available to dealers before announcing its release, so you should be able to get one now if you’re interested. Whether it’s to improve your shooting skills, take along as a trail gun, provide a lightweight backup, or just for fun shooting, the Ruger LCR-22 is a great choice.

I shot this little .22 yesterday for the first time and LOVED it! I am an elderly female …… not much arm or hand strength, and this revolver was perfect for me. It fit comfortably in my palm, had no kickback, was easy to load and empty shell cartridges. My first round of shots showed 3 hits in the abdominal area, one near the eye in the forehead, and I grazed an ear. If I purchase this gun I will also add the Crimson Trace Laser. If I fear for my life and can get off one shot, it will be louder than any scream I could emit, and there is that chance that I will hit something….. hopefully something vital. The trigger pull is difficult for me, but I can do it. I have heard that trigger pulls can sometimes be adjusted. Is that the case with this revolver?

My wife just bought the Ruger LCR-22LR and is very happy with it. Is there any problem shooting CCI Stinger 22 LR Copper Plated Hollow point 32 grain with a 1640 FPS ? That’s only aprox. 200 FPS under a 22 LR Magnum round.

Hey would you mind stating which bpog platform you’re using? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m havinbg a difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I askk is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!

For those that say a .22 is not enough for personal defense need to read more books written by Drs and other professionals instead of repeating what others say. All pistols are low energy low velocity weapons and the destruction they create is determined mainly by the placement of the bullet not the caliber since unlike a high powered which has mass amounts of energy and can thus destroy organs and bones the bullet never contacts. Another thing for everyone that says a .45 is more effective than a 9mm this was proved to be such a slight difference by the US military which is why they now carry the 9mm. Also all these personal defense hollowpoint bullets they sell nowdays at high prices are a joke as the FMJ will kill just as good and even better in many cases as any hollow point. The only real reason for carrying hollow points is to reduce penetration and ricochets when innocents are around. If any of you are ever in a defensive situation with any caliber handgun always remember location, location, location because where the bullet is placed will matter more than caliber or ammo used.

When I first purchased the LCR-22 I shot 200 rounds of Blazer 22LR cartridges. Two cartridges got stuck which I had to pop out with a small tool. After cleaning & oiling I shot another 200 Blazer rounds with no stuck cartridges but it slowly got tougher to eject after 100 rounds. I’ll try different ammo but I’ve shot thousands of Blazer rounds through my Browning Buckmark with no problems.

Sighted the Crimson Trace laser at 7 yards. That distance and anything shorter results in groups of about 8″ or better shooting all eight rounds quickly (3-4 secounds). Trigger pull doesn’t seem heavy and I think it’s because the action is very smooth. The shape eliminates catching on clothing when pulled from pockets. The Crimson Trace laser combined with the double action only and no additional safety latch makes it an easy to use, fast and reliable pistol. My wife is comfortable shooting it and is a good shot. She replaced her can of mace with it and can practice often without breaking the bank.

Follow Up – After shooting over a thousand or so rounds, the extraction issues are gone. I use Remington Yellow Jackets and CCI Blasers. Federal & CCI shotshells work fine too. Fun to shoot, great little pistol.

Just bought an LCP 22. I will bet that the average bad guy cannot tell the difference between a .357 version from the .22 version. That may be deterrent enough! Will shoot it a bunch tomorrow and get back to ya’ll.

Everyone don’t under estimate the power of a 22. Its a fast moving around that does a lot of damage to the human body. I have seen a lot of dead bodies with a .22 or .25 cal…Yea it doesn’t have the shock of a 45 but its a good cal. for the bigger or a women with a small hand and wrist

All of you people saying that a .22 is no good for defensive use have never been shot by a .22! Morons! It hurts like hell and will stop the actions of a criminal on contact. No one wants to be shot a second time by “even a .22”!! These are great firearm that are accurate, fun to shoot, cheap to shoot and will suffice in a pinch as a defensive firearm. Sure you can always use more muzzle energy (I have a +P .38), but don’t hesitate to use a .22 if that’s what is available.

The 22 caliber revolver is the weapon of choice for mob hit men. It hits bones then bounces off and does tremendous damage to soft tissue like the brain, lungs,liver and heart. A 22 bouncing around inside the skull is not a good thing. It can also slice through arteries and veins. That makes it dangerous to anyone. A 1911 was designed to stop people in their tracks. It is heavy and awesome but if you have arthritis any heavy caliber is difficult to manage. Chances are that a 1911 will not be carried and a lcr 22 can be in your pocket with no problems. It is useful and cheap to fire. It is also a killer so be careful. I am a Vietnam Vet and a former range Officer at Ft. Dix so I know what I am talking about. All of you people who go on about how a 22 isn’t dangerous simply do not know what you are talking about. Shot placement is a very important part of shooting. Just ask any trained sniper and he will talk about the triangle which is where you want to aim if you are serious about killing a person. If you want to just disable a person then fire low and a hit will ruin a knee or shin bone then you can run away. In the Army we wanted people wounded so that others would have to come and help the wounded which means that would take away from the total firepower of the enemy. That works well and while they are trying to rescue their friends you can shoot to kill. So a big caliber is not the only answer to a situation. Shot placement and having a plan of action is also important. Remember that handguns are for short distance encounters only. So if you can disable your foe quickly and then move away that is also a good plan because it takes you out of the kill zone. The next day you can read in the paper if he bled to death or not while you are drinking your morning coffee.

I bought this gun a few months back for my wife after she completed her concealed carry course. She loves it and I’ve shot about a thousand rounds through it. Smooth trigger, not difficult to pull. Gun feels good, even in my larger hands. I highly recommend and am sold on this gun. I’m purchasing the 38 version for myself today.

Picked up the little gun from my wife. She’d been shooting a Walther 22 but it has more moving parts. After a few hours of instruction she took right to it. A couple of rounds short of the Walther it was quicker and easier to load from than the empty mag semi. Trigger was great. I was actually allowed to put a few round through it and found it fun to shoot. If you’re down on a 22 lcr for defense thjnk about taking eight rounds at 7 yards in the face, chest or groin area. Better to carry than not.

I picked up a Smith+Wesson Bodyguard .38 with laser,was very happy with it but with a slight case of arthritis,it bothered my hand after firing.There was also a problem switching on the laser, they have a very small button on top to press with your thumb very difficult.I tried the laser on the LCR.22 found it very easy on my way to trade the .38 in.Very interesting blog I learned a few things from your interesting people thank you SEMPER Fi jarhead joe

Wayne Lincourt wrote “The big news, of course is that you can now get it in .22 caliber which opens the opportunity to do a lot more shooting since .22 ammo is inexpensive and widely available. The LCR-22 will handle .22 short, .22 long, and .22 long rifle ammo, including shot shells, which means that you can personalize it for your needs.”

to me, if you’re interested, buy it own it enjoy it… if not, keep walking 😉

used my S&W .38 special +P at my CCW… looking to get this Ruger as early as this Wednesday and really excited about adding another revolver to this household’s modest yet ever growing arsenal

sure enjoyed this article… and all the comments (good and not so good) cause that’s what makes it real 😉

If this had been available when I was looking for an ankle BUG I’d’ve bought it instead of my LCP. Since it’s a revolver it’ll be perfectly dependable while there will always be that niggling doubt in the back of my mind that my LCP may jam when when I need it the most.

I’ve heard the ”22s are useless” comments for 40 years and they’re as ridiculous now as they were then. Granted, I’ll not inject myself into a bad situation if this is all I’m was carrying, but I guarantee emptying my NAA mini 22lr in some boneheads eyeball will change his behavior just as effectively as a 45ACP. Bigger is better, small is better than nothing

Just bought a LCR22 a few days ago. Like my bearcat revolver, shipped very dry. I use REM oil because it’s very thin and can get into most gun mechanisms without disassembly. Made a great difference. I don’t buy guns very often and I still need to write a few letters because with both of these guns the dry nature was quality deficient. A thin coat of oil at assembly should not be so costly to RUGER compared to the nature of the way a firearm acts when not properly lubed. Most of the comment s of dislike concerning this firearm are stretching beyond its use and intent. It’s made “working stiff” for trouble free reliability and safe easy use. It can’t be cocked so it won’t ever go off with a slight touch of the trigger or by dropping it. Short practice sessions can be conducted outdoors without any hearing protection without flinching or ear ringing which I regard as a big advantage in handgun use. Double action rapid fire can be practiced and mastered a lot cheaper and faster with this firearm than perhaps any other especially when it comes to inexperienced and infrequent gun users. Heart throbbing life threatening defense situations will go a lot better with a user friendly pull, point, and “pop pop pop” than trying to handle a heavy cannon. Considering the infrequency of confrontation requiring gun defense, it’s correct to say everyone’s an amateur. The simpler the action requires; the better. The way one’s hand fits around the short rubber grip makes this firearm as pocket carry and snag free as any gun ever invented.

As far as performance goes, (after lubrication) I took it to the yard for 50 shots. In one sequence of eight shots, I actually put 7 into a 2” circle at 25 feet freestanding using both hands slow steady pull while holding the sight picture. That’s as good as I’m ever going to be with standing one-at-a-time shooting with a double action snubby and proves this gun is capable of bench rest shooting to some degree. I was happy with that because steady shot plinking tin cans is kind of fun when you can actually hit the target.

Rapid fire all eight shots 10 feet distance could be done in ~2 seconds and resulted in an 18” pattern about one foot above aim point. A little high wide and sloppy, but for both eyes open doing reckless rapid fire until empty, I consider that meal well “peppered”.

I won’t get into the small caliber 22 argument because it’s an eight shot defense package made to cover a variety of situations more than a one bullet power analysis. Thanks for reading.

It makes sense, as a .22 in the assailant is a heck of a lot more effective than a .45 passing by the assailant. If you can get off several .22 rounds, you have a much better chance of a hit than with one or two larger caliber rounds. No, the .22 isn’t likely to knock them down, but neither is a missed shot with a cannon.

One other factor…..a .22 is common. With a .40 or .45, it can be argued that you are “looking for trouble”. That is a harder sell with a .22. After all, it “just a .22.”

i have started using a blackhawk pocket holster in an elastic back brace for my lcr and this is the best way to carry i have seen. it sucks your weapon up against you so good that i can wear it under a t- shirt and can hardly tell i have it on. super way to carry concealed.

Any gun is the gun you need in an encounter. It’s small, light and concealable. Accurate at close range. The Crimson Trace grip is very convenient. CCI 22 LRhp has a velocity of 900-1200fps. Affordable and effective! Entering the mass, it creates a cavity near 3″ long, up to 1″ in diameter. I think that would hurt! Placing your shots, multiple times .. ! Reload? Go to work quick so you don’t have to.

I had that done on my S&W Model 317 before I sold it, and it caused it to misfire…but he may not have done it right. So I had him replace the original springs before I sold it. The Ruger LCR22 is more accurate new out of the box than the 317 was. I like the LCR22…I think I would like a lighter trigger pull though.

I know that I said it before but I think it bears repeating… The trigger pull on the LCR .22 is much heavier than the trigger pull on the LCR .38. So please be sure to try out the trigger for yourself before buying one. I see a lot of people saying that this would be a good training companion for their existing LCR .38. But not if the trigger pull is significantly higher. I’ve called Ruger and they have confirmed that the LCR .22 has a heavier trigger pull. This may mean that it is unacceptable for young kids or older folks with arthritis. A .22 makes sense for recoil sensitive shooters, but not if they can’t pull the trigger.

The trigger isn’t bad on my gun (almost 13 pounds) but it is not nearly as good as the standard .38 LCR. I just don’t want anyone else to make the same mistake/assumptions that I did. It’s a neat gun. But try to find one with a lighter trigger pull since there is some variance between different samples.

I had a LCR 38. I’m 69 years old and have lost some strength. The LCR 38 recoil (it’s a light gun) was hurting my hand. I dreaded pulling the trigger. I had to sell it. I considered a .32 revolver, but can’t find a manufacturer of new ones, or a used snub-nose for concealed carry. So, I’m now looking for a .22 that I can use stinger hollow points in. The LCR 22 fits that need nicely, but it’s a little large and heavy for pocket-carry, and the sticking cylinder problems stated above concerned me. I’m still looking for a solution. Small pistols like the Beretta Bobcat would be great for pocket-carry, but half the reviews are bad due to jams. Still searching…

For purpose of bona-fides, I’m retired from 35 years of law enforcement, including 11 as a cop and the remainder as a federal agent. I’m definitely NOT retired from 45 years as an active shooter of many guns. Not claiming to “know it all,” but I’ve seen people who’ve been shot by almost every conceivable caliber, and offer the observation that the 22 often kills, but is not very often a physiological stopper. But physcologically stops/deters many more times than the immediate kinetic energy it imparts to the body would make it seem logical. FAR better than no gun, with many rapid shots and shooter’s ability to put bullets on target. Thinking of trying an LCR 22 next to an S&W 642 .38 for my daughter; if she can’t be comfortable with the centerfire report or recoil, I’ll still sleep well knowing that she has the .22 and is secure enough to use it!

anything but blazer ammo. shoots really great. get a lot of practice in with the 22. helps with my 38. love them both. best concealed carry gun i have ever owned. very comfortable, you forget you have it on. i carry it in my pocket or in a yaqui slide holster on my belt. you won’t believe how light it is.

Thanks coffey, I guess that’s what we call an engineering update…an improvement after initial shipments. I wish Ruger could recommend the best ammo for the lcr22, but I guess they don’t want to offend any ammo companies. Would you let me know what ammo your lcr22 prefers?

I was thinking about getting a LCR 22 and this forum has really helped my thinking. I am looking forward to the answer to my question about Ruger addressing the tough ejection problem. The reason is that I had a very similar S&W AirLite 22 Model 317. It not only had the tough ejection problem, but it also had this problem: “After shooting about a dozen rounds, the cylinder would bind during trigger pull”. It took about 20+ pounds of pull to get it to fire. I could lube the cylinder and that would help, but soon would be binding again. I’m wondering if this technology just won’t work with rimfire ammo. I look forward to your comments on this, as well as S&W and Ruger.

I sent my lcr 22 to Ruger after I emailed them and they sent me a UPS prepaid sticker. I got it back with no explanation as to what had caused the problem, just a lot of pamphlets on cleaning the gun and they said they had made a repair but did not say what it was.

See my post above… I just cleaned the gun and tried Remington Thunderbolts without any cases sticking. Try switching brands of ammo a few times and I think things will smooth out. This gun should not have any real problems.

Has anybody had problems with 22 LR failing to eject because the casing expands at the base where the ejector rod is? My little LCR 22 shoots great with either 22 L or American Eagle 22LR, but I tried shooting some CCI through it and could not eject the cylinder and had to tap the front of the ejector rod to get them out, at one point of the spent casings was lodged in the cylinder that it stayed after the others were ejected out with tapping.

YES !!! I just bought one also and tried CCI MiniMags with the same problem with ejecting spent cases. One or two fall out but the ejector will not budge and I have to pull the rest out with my pocket knife or push them through with a small screwdriver. I tried swabbing some gun oil in the cylinders and that didn’t help a bit : ( Very disappointing- just wondering if it’s the ammo. What to try next???

Just bought one. Having the same problem. Using Federal Premium 36gr JHP. The spent 22 cal cartridges are very hard to eject. Even had a few that must have slipped under the ejector while ejecting. I also have 2 LCR 357 models-they feel and handle identically compared to the LCR22. I just shoot 38+P in the LCR357 models and never had any problems ejecting spent cartridges or any other problems at. All 3 shoot very much alike (except for noise and recoil) and they have a very natural point, and are the same size. They fit in your front jeans pocket (in a DeSantis pocket holster) Trigger pull on all is very smoothe and easy, and the trigger pull on the 22 is only slightly stronger than LCR357 models. Gun is very accurate and a blast to shoot.

Great trigger pull on the LCR. In 22LR, I’d like to see longer barrel options of three and four inches plus sights you can see against a dark background. I really can’t see a 2″ barreled 22 revolver except as a practice gun for the larger caliber. Why not scale it up to 40 & 45 calibers?

My mother is looking to buy two handguns. She wants one upstairs by her bed and one downstairs which will also be the one she carries with her. I saw this gun at scheels and liked it. I love and own bigger caliber firearms but I believe that since she is not as familiar to shooting as I am that the noise level and recoil of this gun will be her best option. I think this gun will be perfect for her upstairs bedside gun. The shotgun in my squad car was loaded with 3 slugs and 2 buckshot loaded so the buckshot shot first. The first 2 or 3 rounds she will shoot out of this revolver will also be cci shot before the hollow points take over. If this doesn’t finish the job mom’s bowie knife will!

Ruger did a great job with this 9 shot small pistol LCR and lover to see it in WMR as a CC ,light weight as true to all Rugers made well . I have two 10/22 one for me and wife great little carbine, and my ground hod 17 HMR 23” scoped . And a Security 357 stainless I bought 10 years ago , tight as the day I bought it and 3000 rounds though it.

you still got that security six?…with only 3000 rounds through it….Id be willin to take her off yer hands and show her the love she needs. You should be able to put 30K though that before you start to get the ol’ lead in the face effects of cylinder slop. Thats .38s and normal .357s….heavy hot loads your miles may vary, heheh.

so if you add a forward acing spring to a semi auto sniper rifle will it make the gun fully auto. the spring pushes the g.block forward, and the gas pushes back, and when it runs out of ammo the cycle stops.

As a physician and a long time shooter- nothing beats practice. So I take my daughter out and let her shoot 50 or so rounds with a .22, then she sends 10 or 12 .357 mag rounds downrange. And when she goes back to her apartment to college she takes a S&W.357 mag. I’ve seen too many guys walk into the ER with 2 or 3 .22 wounds to thorax and abdomen- but none WALK in with .357 shots to the thorax or abd.

I have a Sig Mosquito that I bought not because it was super accurate or dependable… but because it had the same buttons and feel of the big boys. A very handy training tool/plinker, and I’m sure the little LCR 22 will be just as useful for wheelgun training. Plus you can shoot 500 rounds for $20 instead of $120. Great for novices, kids, or experienced shooters alike. You’ll shoot more rounds and more often. I wouldn’t carry either for a 1st line of defense…but it’s sure better than throwing rocks?

For someone to hurt you they have got to see you. With the first chamber firing a #12 shot shell to the face will surley render that person to a life of living in the dark, pretty much fight over. Then if you feel you should kill go ahead, 7 more rounds to the head should be not much problem, after all ,that someone is going to be farting around trying to figure out why the lights went out!

I have a Taurus 9 shot 22lr revolver pistol. Very hard trigger pull and although I love the fact that it is so cheap to fire, it is very hard to eject the spent rounds and not very accurate IMHO and clunky relatively speaking. I was in the gun shop the other day and I was playing with an LCR 357. I was really impressed with the light trigger pull. I also have a 101 Ruger 357 which I love but the trigger pull is rather hard and rough compared to the LCR 357. The LCR- 22 trigger should be great if it is anything like the LCR-357 trigger BUT this article says 12lbs. That seems much harder than the LCR -357. Can anyone help here? Also I agree, this puppy should be $350- $375. Remember Ruger, the pigs get fat and the hogs get slaughtered.

Yes the trigger is near 12 lbs. But everyone here that mentions that, is thinking….just a trigger spring. The LCR’s of every caliber have cammed triggers. I carry a S&W 340 M&P .357 snubbie. Small framed revolvers have tough triggers to deal with. My well worn trigger on my smith feels alot harder than on the lcr’s ive tried at the shop.

The cammed process makes the trigger feel smoother and seem to take less poundage to pull. They all felt more like 6 to 8 pound triggers to me. which still isnt a 5lb. trigger from a glock. but anyone thats gonna compare a trigger from an auto to a snubbie revo…..more than likely wont carry a little wheelie anyways.

I retired after 27 years in law enforcement. When I am asked about a suitable self-defense gun, my stock answer is carry the largest caliber you can comfortablly shoot with AND then practice, practice, practice with it. If not, then a .22 cal makes perfect sense (albeit, you still need to practice). The bottom line? Nobody… and I mean nobody, wants to get shot. I don’t want to get shot in the foot with a .22 much less any where else. 3 or 4 quick shots with a .22 and most all the starch will be taken out of the bad guy’s attitude, not to mention his carcass.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE 22LR. FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES. WITH A WELL PLACED SHOT THE 22LR. HAS THE CAPABILITY OF BRINGING DOWN ANY MAN OR ANIMAL IN NORTH AMERICA,(WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE BIG BEARS). I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS A TRAUMA ROOM NURSE AND SHE HAS SAID THAT OVER THE YEARS SHE HAS SEEN QUITE A FEW GUNSHOT WOUNDS COME IN AND INVARIABLY MOST OF THE WORST HAVE BEEN MADE WITH A .22. SO RE-READ ” MY WEAPONS PERMIT”, THE FORMER HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT. THE LITTLE RUGER LCR IN 22CAL. WOULD BE A PERFECT SELF DEFENSE GUN, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN THAT ARE RECOIL CONCIOUS OR SENIORS LIKE MYSELF THAT HAVE ARTHRITIS IN MY HANDS AND ARMS THAT FIND IT HARDER TO SHOOT A BIGGER CALIBER.

I shoot a S&W 625 for combat shooting because it has a good trigger pull. The ruger LCR trigger is a lot better. An LCR format big gun in cal. .40 with moon clips would change the status of S&W as the leader in revolver competition.

I carry an LCR in .38 Special and will be buying one of these .22 versions as soon as I can find one. As the article states, you’ll pay for this gun in ammo savings if you shoot with any frequency. Plus as I’ve learned with .22 “lite” versions of other pistols, it will make you a better shooter with the big bore. A win-win situation if there ever was one!

The little pistol also serves as a defensive weapon for the older and arthritic seniors. As a retired medical professional I have seen many, many patients die from small caliber wounds. Once the projectile enters the body it begins a erratic travel path. Yes the patient will not drop , but then I ‘ve see people shot with 45’s and 9’s walk away. The all end up in the ER. The patient shot with the 25,22 or 32 have a greater blood loss than a 9mm. This gun will be a deterrent and a 8 shot defensive pistol with quicker follow up shots to those who are no longer able to handle or hurt from a stiff recall. No matter how you shoot now, or how fast you gun and run, you will reach a age where you have to modify your shooting habits. Merry Christmas and God Bless America!! Support the 2nd Amendment and the NRA!!!

to answer the wisdom DAVID R, if you think this gun can’t save your life, well your an idiot. Mabey you should spend more time at a gun range, and not watching T.V. and learn how to shoot. I’m an ex Navy Seal, and let me tell you 1 round ,and you know how to shoot, think before you post stupid idems,I have this gun and let me tell you ,this gun in the hand of a shooter your dead, just as good as a .44mag

I KNEW A MAN THAT HAD A WINCHESTER MODEL 06- PUMP .22 AND KILLED MORE BLACK TAIL DEER WITH IT THAN HIS MODEL 94 30-30 BECAUSE 50 CENTS FOR 50 ROUNDS MADE MORE SENSE TO HIM THAN 20 ROUNDS FOR $10.00 MOST WERE ONE SHOT KILLS.

I have to wonder why Ruger chooses limit the versatility, of what should be a excellent hard-use kit gun, by offering it in double-action only format. Anyone who’s ever used this class of revolver for small game or pest elimination, already understands the necessity of a single action option for precise shooting. I guess guys who actually take their handguns afield are a smaller influence on the market these days.

Is the .22 WMR next? I very much hope so. Just got back from a squirrel hunting trip. I used my Ruger 77/22 in .22 WMR with CCI MAXI-MAG hollow points. I know the ballistics are not the same as a short barrel pistol, but seeing the devestation these little bullets can do on game, I would not want to be in front of one.

In the old days before the information age, there were some beef slaughter houses that took the 1500 pound cows down with the 22LR every day 5 days a week by shooting them between the eyes. Another article I read, maybe in Outdoor Life, was this guy back in the early 1900’s, along with his family, lived essentially in the wildernes and he was hunting to put food on the table. He was on a burm above a trail to where he was 15 ft from a trail. A full size moose walked by and he was able to place a shot between the eyes at 15 ft. The moose dropped in its tracks. One should not underestimate the killing power of any projectile that has the ability to penetrate into the body.

Yes you just have to remember. Guys that have done this are very experienced hunters and shooters with cool nerves who probably did not have a larger caliber weapon available. Recommending a .22 for self defense or to try and shoot large or medium game larger than a rabbit is just plain silly and will result in wounded animals and may get soemone killed.

Having confronted a burglar last week and forgetting to take the safety off when he jumped me I am convinced that I will only carry a revolver such as the LCR. I will have the .38 sp. at hand and will buy the LCR.22 to shoot many rounds and for my wife to practice and plink with so she will not be afraid of an handgun and it safe and proper use. My attorney and I are now waiting to see if the perp will sue me since I fractured with skull with a wine bottle. In Kansas he is wasting his time so I doubt if he can get an attorney to take the case.

Price….price….price….At $500….I would go for a used SS S&W kit gun which I have and love…cost was $350….at about $350 I would like this little Ruger….as for accurate plinking my Ruger Goverment model .22 which I also have and bought for a lot less than $500….Years ago Bill Ruger use to build high quality guns for a great working man price,,,Now they still build high quality guns…but the great prices are gone…just my 2 cents….John

I really enjoy my LCR 22lr. It is ideal for my girl friend. She tried a friends 9mm on the range and that was way too much of a gun. Think about it,,,if someone pulls out a gun, will you ask the caliber, is your response oh a 22, go ahead and shoot, it is just a 22! My training tells me to start moving away quickly in a random manner when somene points a gun at me! And on the price, I purchased mine for $395 from the local gun shop.

Correct. The price is consistently below $400. I got mine for $380 and a local gun shop has them on sale for $369 virtually every month. I really don’t understand why people don’t realize that MSRP is always WAY more than street price. Rugers are notorious for having a high MSRP and a much lower street price.

I Like it! I’ve carried a S&W Model 10 snubbie for years and I”ve used a S&W 317 for practice. It’s a small .22 revolver air weight with 8 rounds capacity and a 3″ barrel. I Think Ruger has the right idea in making a companion gun for the LCR in .22. I’ve also seen them release the SP101 in .22 also for a great kit gun. I once read that more people have been killed with .22s than any other caliber around.

I just have to say, I hear a lot about .22, and small hand guns not being good for defense. I also read that more people are killed by .22 in the US then any other caliber? My friends Dad was shot by a .22 in a hostage situation, he lived but he said it took the fight right out of him. He wanted nothing more then to get away from the shooter.

Just the sight of the gun will scare off most bad guys. My S&W .22 airlite is also very very loud! This is also good for scaring off a bad guy, but I use mine mostaly for putting down trapped animals, coons, possums, cyote, etc. . .

Good review! This looks to be a perfect training adjunct to the original revolver and a great carry along trail gun. I’d love to see this gun as a ‘kit gun’ with a 3-3.5″ barrel and a bit lower price. A super lightweight .22 with a 3″ barrel and 8 round cylinder at around $350-$400 would be high up on the short list for my next firearm purchase!

No one wants to get shot, even with a .22, and the round has terminated many criminals and accidentals over the years. Fact is, this is a perfect beginner’s revolver, and for those who just can’t or won’t gain skill with the “.40 or .45”, it can save their life, even if just by display. Not everyone will become a seasoned pistol fighter, and the LCR may be just the ticket for those folks. I have to smile at the chest thumpers that claim their way is the only way. It just ain’t so.

What you’re saying is quite true. But here’s the rub: A .22 is a very deadly projectile, but it’s also a “kill you later bullet”. It has lethality, but not instant stopping power unless you go for a brain shot within the four inch circle of the nose. That will typically drop someone when you hit the facial nerves – .22 short could do that. OTOH if the guy is enraged, that little pocket gun can be your next suppository after he beats the crap out of you. So shot placement is critical for an instant stop. A double tap with Yellow Jackets or CCI Stingers to the face is more like it. It’s also not called a surgeon’s nightmare for nothing. You hit a deer in the ribs with a short from a rifle and it will look he swallowed a Cuisine Art. Again – shot placement. For a deep concealment mouse gun with multiple shots, nothing beats a .22.

This will be a good seller. And as far as a self defense weapon, a 22 can be very effective in the hands of someone that shoots. I guess if you set behind a keyboard or play video games all day, that makes you an expert about ballistics. Quit believing the myth that a 22 is useless for self defense.

Does .22 WMR really perform better than .22 LR out of 2 inch barrel? I though my Ruger single six convertible was about the minimum barrel length to make any difference, and even at that not realizing the .22 WMR’s full potential. I do like that cartridge.

We all agree it is a plinker and most likely the most fun plinker ever made, and of course a .22 in your hand is better defense than a 44 in the safe! But my only problem is the price point for a plinker it is expensive and you could just go out and by a bigger bore like 9mm which is both cheap ammo and provides better stopping power. Lets hope the street price comes way down without losing all its features.

currently have a S&W .38 SPCL +P that i used for my CCW and I’m looking to get this Ruger LCR .22 LR… the .38 is for home defense, if need be… the .22 will be 1 of 2 guns I carry… we also have a Glock .40 and a 12ga pump for the home defense, right after you get past our dogs (lol)… actually looking to pay $375 and hoping to get it this Wed 😉

While a 22LR handgun would not be my first choice in a gunfight it is much better than no handgun at all. The assertion that a 22 caliber handgun has no place in self defense is absurd. Well placed 22 caliber hits in the in the pneumothorax or cerebral cortex will stop a fight more surely than a 45 caliber miss. Very few people who carry handguns for self defense practice enough to be truely proficient. For those on a limited budget this revolver just may be the compromise they need to maintain proficiency.

This would be a great pistol to train new shooters on. They could get lots of trigger time without breaking the bank, while avoiding some of the bad habits that can develop when shooting the bigger calibers.

Nice review. Since I own one of these in .357, this would provide a low cost way to practice. And as far as a .22 goes, you throw a 22LR into somebody’s skull, they’ll go down. I think just seeing the weapon come into view could be enough of a deterrent to send a thug the other way. Again, nice review.

Other than plinking, what other purpose can this gun serve?? For self protection, it’s pretty much useless. You’d have to empty it, and possibly reload. In order to fatally injure. If you know anything about today’s liberal, the criminal’s always right, justice system. You know that if do not put the scumbag in the here after. And you’re lucky enough not to end up in prison. He and his attorney will take you to court and own everything you’ve worked all you life to acquire. Forget the 22LR, and pick up a 40 Smith, or a 45 automatic. That is, unless you’re a plinker.

The focus of this article is that it is a fun plinker and a good size and feel substitute for the .38 LCR for training purposes. He pretty much says as far as defense goes, it’s better than a sharp stick in the eye.

The weapon serves a very large need as a trainer. When I started my accumulation of fire arms back in the 80’s 38special was the cheapest center fire cartridge available. Now it is quite pricy. The 22 allows you to practice the draw stroke, sight alignment and trigger squeeze with out the cost or noise associated with center-fire ammo. Police Departments used 22 caliber ammo for initial training during the day of the round gun, and I recall using 22 caliber adapters for both the 1911 and the M16 during my Infantry days.

1) The review went to the fun utility of the weapon & not to self defense. 2) I wonder, given the thick cynicism of the poster’s remarks if he really understands the lethal mechanism of a bullet of any size. A bullet kills by causing the victim to bleed out or by hitting a major organ. The 22 seems to have a good killing rep with organized crime & the Israelis. Being able to afford to shoot a couple of hundred rounds PER week of plinking rounds – something I cannot afford to with my 9mm, my (wimpy) “shorty 40,” or my 45ACP (designed, btw, to put down Huk’s crazed with blood lust) – I’ comfortable with the idea of 8 rounds & my ability, under stress, to hit either the bad guy’s smallish brain or his femoral artery, the artery that fills the penis Or possibly the baddie’s brachial artery. Except with my 9mm Glock, I have no such expectations – NOT ENOUGH PRACTICE. 3) When a weapon is brandished what semi-intelligent person doesn’t start looking for a way out? When the first 22LR drills into this idiot’s crotch & the blood starts a’flowin’ who is going to want to continue an attack? Even a close miss on the first round should set the miscreant fleeing. Oh, this is one of those baddies crazed on meth and PCP…ah, the worst predator of the suburban jungle. 8 quick, reasonably on target rounds and evade & escape – &if escape is not feasible but the cops are on the way then I pray that they’re carrying enough shorty 40’s to slow the guy down until he bleeds out or someone can manage to shoot those noise makers, accurately, under stress, to pop this guy’s melon. I’m sorry for my irritation: I’m tired of people having forgotten the fun & utility firearms; the argument is always over whose got the bigger bullet or how far a rifle can get a one shot kill on a man! 4) The only thing that bothers me in tje actual review is a 12 pound trigger?! That will definitely take a lotta training rounds to change over from my 5 pound Glock.

It’s more like an 8 lb trigger pull if it’s the same frame as the .38 LCR (which it appears to be) The .38 my wife has is about 8 lbs or so. Going to look at this .22 for her as well, because even the .38 jackhammers her little paw during practice.

Unfortunately, it really does have a 12 pound trigger pull. When I received my LCR 22 I was greatly disappointed that the trigger is nothing at all like the LCR .38’s that I have tried.

Just a fair warning… if you are buying the LCR 22 and expecting it to be anything like the LCR .38 in terms of trigger pull you will be very disappointed.

I haven’t even shot mine yet and I’m already scheming on how I’m going to get rid of it. 🙁 I bought it as a range gun for my kids and neither one of them can even pull the trigger (10 and 13 years old). Mine actually measures closer to 13 pounds. If my kids can’t shoot it then it is of no use to me.

Excellent comment, and right on the money. Here’s a link to a 10 year study that, for the short story, showed the 22 caliber to be a fantastic choice for self defense: http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7866 It found due to both the physical and oft overlooked psychological effect of being hit with any round of any size, most attackers will stop. They realize very suddenly that this is real life, real blood, real pain, and nobody’s sure if there isn’t a punctured lung, severed artery with internal bleeding, or a vital organ hit in there. And as you know you can get multiple rounds into a person with a 22 due to near absence of recoil if they decide to continue the fight. Plus you can train for peanuts on a 22. Consequently, I’m considering this gun very heavily for my wife, who is also getting her hand and wrist spanked by her 38 special.

Thanks for your post, Scott. And thank you Wayne for this great article. I do love my LCRs, for the reasons you mention: to be able to afford to practice more. I have both the LCR38 and LCR22. The 38 does have a softer trigger pull (and a much bigger “bang”), but I find that I am just as accurate with the 22, even with the harder pull. And I do find these guns to be incredibly accurate. Even at 30-45 feet I shoot mostly within the 6 inch center circle. Yesterday I sent the 12 inch target out to 60 feet and did not miss the paper with either the 38 or 22, shooting 25 rounds total. To save even more money and to train not to flinch with the 38, I load it with 4 snap caps and one bullet. The cost of one round of 38 is equal to eight rounds of 22. Adams

The whole idea is that .22s are a hell of a lot of fun to shoot. The more fun you have, the more you shoot and become better at it. If I were a criminal, I would be more afraid of someone who is proficient with a .22 than someone who buys a .45 and sticks it away in a drawer for 20 years thinking he might need it someday. Also, living in a state where we have a castle doctrine, I don’t worry about the liberals and their lawyers….

I am a former homicide detective and have been to several autopsies caused buy one or two .22 bullets. I am also a firearms instructor and telling someone to forget a .22 and pick up a .40 or .45 is not good advice.

I have been stopped in my tracks trying to avoid a wasp sting – much less being shot in the heart, face, or lungs with a .22.

If someone buys a .40 or .45 and then does not practice with it because he or she can’t afford ammo, or is uncomfortable with recoil or the size of the weapon, all the misses with a .40 or a .45 in a self defense situation will not do them any good.

On the other hand, if someone buys a .22 and practices with it monthly and always carries it because of its size, he or she has a great chance of shooting an attacked until he goes away.

One question: Do you think you could rape a woman while she’s shooting you with a .22?

My thinking for most of my life, I am not sure but would bet FBI stats would conferm that the 22lr has killed more people not counting war, than all callibers combined. Women need to be trained to shoot for the balls! Thank You

Very well said and I am glad to hear your opinion as a professional. Of course I prefer a larger caliber for self defense from two legged predators, but this revolver has a niche. Cheap practice which is always good, and seems to me in snake country a few shot cartridges loaded first up would be good. Here in Florida, finding a venomous snake under your lawn chair is relatively common. It would beg a great gun to keep in the pocket of your shorts all the time.

I’m with Weapons Permit, as I was also in law enforcement for 25 years, last ten as chief. I taught all my men/women officers and detectives that they should never underestimate the much maligned little .22 caliber in Short or Long Rifles (Longs have almost disappeared!). a .22 LR can penetrate two inches of pine before mushrooming (if JHP!). Many doctors tell of people shot with .22’s that rally for a couple of days then suddenly die! Still a mystery!

Thank you and very well put also.I don’t want popped with a rubber band much less shot with a .22 and any silly person out there that will think it will not stop you …..I will be more than glad to to prove you wrong.

As someone who trains with firearms and carries a firearm, I choose not to carry a .22 lr, a .25acp or a .32apc. I personally feel that stopping a threat is the main objective and do not trust the smaller calibers to quickly and effectively stop a threat. That said as a field paramedic, I can tell you that out of all the GSW (gun shot wounds) call that I went on, the largest percentage of DOA (dead on arrival) or those that did not arrive to the emergency room breathing on their own were shot with a .22. Common to these calls was a torso hit with no exit wound. The diminutive .22 has the tendency to bounce off of bony structures multiple times before expending their energy. Curiosity lead me to ask the medical examiner about these cases and he reported that, in most cases, multiple organs bad been perforated before the bullet came to rest, causing fatal trauma. Did they die instantly…no. Were they physically capable of continuing the fight for a small amount of the time…yes. Yet, the end result was the morgue.

Let me put 2 to 3 .22 rounds in your gut then you try to wrestle me. I bet I would win, point being the .22 shouldn’t be anyones first choice of defense but to act like it’s useless is just wrong and frankly sort of caveman type thinking. Ugh not big enough ugh.

You put 1 .22 into someone’s gut and they probably aren’t going to want to wrestle because they’d be too concerned about the bullet in their body. Make it a .22 magnum and that’s even worse! Look at it this way, who doesn’t turn away when someone points a weak BB gun at them let alone a powerful one because they don’t want to be shot with that? What makes anyone think a .22 wouldn’t make most people cringe if it was pointed at them?

Hey, how about break for a gun-loving attorney here!?? : ). That Ruger 22 is sweet, and would make a nice surprise gift for the wife. I think I’ll stick with my (suppressed) Walther P-22. And as far as the OP’s rather dismal view of the way things are – spend some time in court observing, and you may just find that the system is not as ‘broken’ as the alarmists would have you believe. Oh, and -trust me – not all criminals are liberals.

JFC, could you ramble any more, circle back to where you began and not make any less sense? I’m a “Liberal” — like all of the people who founded this friggin country — and I just bought one of these. I’m almost certain if I hit you or anyone else in the forehead a few times with this weapon it would give you pause for reflection. Well, maybe not you, I doubt there’s much in the way of gray matter in your pumpkin. You don’t HAVE to be a closed-minded, lemming-like right wing whacko to own firearms. It’s in the Constitution. You’re familiar with the Constitution? That document George W. Bush called “just a goddamed piece of paer?”

Yes, because those who support freedom and equality (definitively; undebatable; these are fundamental liberal roots) are definitely criminals.

Those who support a clean environment, fair justice system, and democracy are definitely criminals.

Of course as soon as you get into politics, the close minded idiots have to get involved. Stop using the term “liberal” as an insult, unless you are against freedom for all and equal rights to everyone.

When they decide they can steal from me to fund their ideals, and destroy my nation to “help the poor”, they’re criminals. “Liberal” isn’t an insult, just like “child molestor” or “traitor” sin’t an insult- they just describe what is. That’s not the only thing the three have in common, either.

your comments are just plain stupid….this would be a great carry for a woman….you said for self defence someone would have to unload 8 rounds and then maybe reload, to fatally injure?….your a dam idiot